"Radar Cross-section Rating of Vulcan Bomber?" Topic

Anyone know the radar cross-section of the Vulcan bomber?

I've looked all over the net, without success.

Now that it's retired, I assume the info might be available.

Can't help with specifics but it struck me that with that huge delta wing it would be very dependant on the relative angle (in 3d) between the radar and the Vulcan – true for any aircraft of course but even more so in this case.

I recently picked up a couple of books on the Vulcan and V force – ill happily take a skim for you but I will readily admit I have no idea what I'm looking for? Numbers? A diagram? Edit: just looked and turns out one is just pretty pictures book.
Other than that I'd suggest contacting the Imperial War Museum at Duxford. I've always found the research room at London IWM very helpful and I assume Duxford would also be happy to help.

Thank you for your kind offer, Mishima. I really appreciate it.

I'm interested in numbers, or a comparison, if possible.

In my extensive Google searching, I've just come up with, from "….some angles it was very stealthy, and almost invisible…", and/or a "…very low radar cross section for its size…". From other angles, like the side, "…it was as big as a barn door, due to its large rudder", and would have been a lot more stealthy, without that.

I haven't been able to fing anything more definitive than that.

Apparently, the B-1's radar cross-section, from the front, is only about 1/50th the size of that of a B-52, so comparison values like that would work too.

My guess is that the Vulcan's radar signature is probably similar to that of a B-1 (but perhaps not quite as small – maybe more like 1/20th – 1/25th that of the B-52, when viewed from the front). From the front quarter, it should also be quite stealthy, but from the side, it would probably be very similar to other aircraft.

From below, it would be HUGE.

Detection distances would also be useful, if there aren't any Radar Cross Section (RCS) values provided.

Depends on the radar type and function.

I dont think theres anything like that in there. Reading the relevant passages seem to indicate that the soviet air defence was designed for high level penetration so they swapped to low level tactics. This seems to be the main defence due to the inadequacy of the enemy defence radar. All fine and dandy but not if you are using them in a different scenario.